Good Thursday morning, Illinois. I’ll be enjoying the free wi-fi on my Amtrak ride home to Chicago. Ping ideas to skapos@politico.com.

THE BUZZ

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget presentation was news of the day in Springfield. His Wednesday speech was rich with imagery and inspiration and included a call for patience. “There’s no quick fix,” he said. “It took decades to get us into this mess. It will take at least several years to get us out.” Here’s how his budget tackles the mess:

Some spending priorities: $100 million increase in early childhood block grant; $375 million for K-12 education; $2 million to fund AP testing fees for high school students; $52.2 million increase for public universities and $13.9 million for community colleges; $30 million increase for Child Care Assistance Program; $250 million for homelessness prevention; $65 million for support services for seniors; $2 million for community-based violence prevention programs; $46.2 million to maintain Joliet and Elgin treatment centers.

Tackling pensions: Pritzker’s No. 1 solution is a graduated income tax. That still requires a constitutional change. So in the meantime, the state will extend the pension payment schedule by seven years—for a savings of some $878 million.There’s also a plan for pension funding bonds of $2 billion.

Some surprises: Casinos are off the table. Pritzker’s team decided it didn’t want to get bogged down with the politics and process of getting a casino up and running. Sports-betting, meanwhile, can be ramped up quickly through legislation. Another surprise: a plan to tax insurance companies to help cover state Medicaid costs.

Missing from the budget: Along with no casino, there are no cuts in government. That’s because Illinois is operating to the bone, according to Pritzker’s budget team. Many jobs remain unfilled and they’ll continue to be kept that way until the administration examines how to move forward.

Selling assets. James. R. Thompson Center is one, but no details on other buildings that might be sold.

Speech highlights: Pritzker invoked former Gov. Henry Horner, who in 1933 faced fiscal challenges from the Great Depression. Pritzker quoted Horner: “We have got to hurdle a few more obstacles before we are on the broad highway of return to normal conditions. However, the road is clearly in sight.”

A nod to bipartisanship. Pritzker thanked GOP Sen. Sue Rezin, who “extended a hand of friendship” on his first day on the job. It’s a gesture he won’t forget—“even when we inevitably disagree.” It was a signal that they surely will.

MORE BUZZ

SCOOP. The Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) is receiving $10 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Defense—and DOD is pledging another $20 million over the next five years to drive the digital future of manufacturing.

DMDII is a 100,000 square foot manufacturing demonstration and testing center located in UI LABS innovation center at Goose Island. Its goal is to come up with new ways to use technology in old-school companies. Supporters include Dow Chemical, Lockheed Martin, Rolls-Royce, Siemens and, even, McKinsey & Company.

“It is essential for our national security and our prosperity that DMDII not just continue but ramp up its efforts to pull manufacturers into the modern era,” Caralynn Nowinski Collens, CEO of UI LABS, said in announcing the funding with POLITICO.

CAMPAIGNS

— Toni Preckwinkle’s son works for a company that gets county business, by WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos. The Cook County Board president has spoken out against nepotism. But her son, Kyle Preckwinkle, works for a private company that’s been paid millions of county taxpayer dollars in recent years. Story here

— Lori Lightfoot would raise hotel tax to help keep artists in Chicago, by Tribune’s John Byrne. “One of the things we should do is have a modest increase in the hotel tax so we can expand the amount of moneys that are actually available for grant-making for our artists,” she said. “There should be no reason why artists are leaving Chicago to go to New York or LA or some other place that’s more friendly and more livable for them.” Story here

— Cubs owners swing for the fences to oust Wrigleyville alderman: “Tom Tunney’s resistance to some expansion plans at and around Wrigley have emerged as a central focus of the campaign in which he faces two challengers. The veteran alderman insists he’s looking out for the best interests of the whole neighborhood, while the Ricketts family says he’s been bullheaded by standing in the way of progress.” By Mia Sato of the Better Government Association in cooperation with Block Club Chicago. Story here

CHICAGO

— Smollett to appear in court today, according to the Sun-Times’ Andy Grimm and Sam Charles. Cook County prosecutors approved disorderly conduct charges against “Empire” star Jussie Smollett on Wednesday on allegations he staged a hate crime against himself — capping a tumultuous series of turns in a case that’s drawn worldwide headlines. Smollett is expected to appear in bond court today. Story here

— R. Kelly moves out of Near West Side studio, by Sun-Times' Sam Charles:The disgraced R&B star has vacated the studio space he rented on the Near West Side after a Cook County judge ordered his access to the studio restricted, according to Kelly's attorney. Story here

POT-POURRI

— Medical marijuana growers lobbying for licenses that also would allow them to control supply of recreational pot, by Tribune’s Robert McCoppin: Medical marijuana growers, once banned from making political contributions, are now spending money to influence the expected legalization of recreational cannabis in Illinois in an effort to keep that market to themselves — at least temporarily. Story here

— Chicago officials will start tracking businesses that sell CBD products. Here’s why, by Tribune's Ally Marotti: CBD is more popular than ever. The national market for products with the non-intoxicating cannabis compound exploded by more than 80 percent in 2018 to nearly $600 million, according to Chicago-based Brightfield Group. Now, the city is keeping track of businesses that sell the products in case additional regulations are adopted. Story here

COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS

— Federal judge denies Sterigenics' motion to lift ban on use of cancer-causing gas at Willowbrook plant, reports Tribune’s Rosemary Sobol. Sterigenics had wanted the court to block the Pritzker administration from using authority in state law that allows the Illinois EPA to force the closure of any polluter that poses an “imminent and substantial endangerment” to public health. Story here

SPOTLIGHT

The Illinois House Republican Caucus has unanimously elected State Rep. Tony McCombie to lead the House Republican Organization (HRO). HRO is the political arm of the caucus. McCombie is the first woman to lead HRO.

JOB CHANGES

— Ashlie Kuehn has joined JUUL as senior manager of government affairs. She most recently was a contractual lobbyist in Springfield representing energy, education and construction companies. She’s also has had a number of corporate state government relations roles at Anheuser-Busch InBev, Coca-Cola Enterprises and Prairie State Generating Company.

— Karen Harris joins Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA) as senior vice president and general counsel. Harris, who will be based in IHA’s Naperville office, will oversee policy, advocacy, business, governance, regulatory and compliance matters. She previously was partner in the Chicago office of Saul Ewing, Arnstein & Lehr LLP.

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About The Author : Shia Kapos

Shia Kapos is a reporter for POLITICO and author of POLITICO's Illinois Playbook, the most indispensable morning newsletter for influencers in Illinois government and politics.

Prior to joining POLITICO, she wrote the popular Taking Names column for the Chicago Sun-Times (and before that Crain’s Business). She’s also had stints at Dealreporter and the Salt Lake Tribune. Shia’s career has been built on breaking news and landing sit-down interviews with notable names and personalities. She’s covered billionaires on the rise and lawmakers’ precipitous falls—and all the terrain in between.

About The Author : Adrienne Hurst

Adrienne Hurst is the senior copy editor at POLITICO Pro.

Before joining POLITICO, she was a reporting fellow at Injustice Watch, a nonprofit investigative journalism organization focused on criminal justice issues. She has also written for Chicago magazine and the Chicago Reader.

Adrienne graduated with a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a bachelor's degree in creative writing from the University of Washington.